Prom 26 (23.08.21) - Catrin Finch/ Seckou Keita

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Monday 23 August 2021
Royal Albert Hall

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London
Presented by Tom Service

Catrin Finch, harp
Seckou Keita, kora

She plays the harp, he plays the West African kora (harp-lute) and together they present a unique meeting of cultures and a musical partnership of rare empathy.

Whether influenced by Bach or by nature and migration, Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita draw on their connections as well as their distinctive roots, the two instruments sharing ancient associations of storytelling and courtly entertainment.

The pair have garnered awards from fRoots and Songlines as well as no fewer than three accolades at the 2019 Radio 2 Folk Awards. Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita take over the Royal Albert Hall in an atmospheric exploration that embraces the worlds of folk, non-Western and contemporary music in their Proms debut as a duo.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Bumping this thread, as the concert has started.

[bluestateprommer]

At the risk of misinterpretation, or perhaps awkward phrasing, this concert so far is very 'chillax' and mellow, but in the very best senses of those terms, where two excellent musicians are showing their musicianship and virtuosity without being very loud or in-your-face about it. But maybe that will change later with one or two selections :) . (The irony of this particular concert is that the particular R3 presenter is the diametric opposite of those qualities, but never mind.) This concert is rather balm to the soul, and perhaps quite what is needed now.

[oddoneout]

At the risk of misinterpretation, or perhaps awkward phrasing, this concert so far is very 'chillax' and mellow, but in the very best senses of those terms, where two excellent musicians are showing their musicianship and virtuosity without being very loud or in-your-face about it. But maybe that will change later with one or selections :) . (The irony of this particular concert is that the particular R3 presenter is the diametric opposite of those qualities, but never mind.) This concert is rather balm to the soul, and perhaps quite what is needed now.

Very much my thoughts, especially your last sentence. The Saturday Prom with Moses Sumney was similar - I had no idea what it was all about but did find it comforting to have on quietly soothing a jagged mind that night.

[oddoneout]

Just remembered, I saw this when it was shown earlier this year, might be of interest. On of the slow TV type films, just following the process of making a kora and seeing and hearing life going on around the maker. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000m2dj

[jayne lee wilson]

A lovely slow rippling and reflecting through the surfaces of my domestic ambience......

Finch & Keita presenting their own creations with warmth, joy and gentle humour......